Initiative: OPBI is committed to creating a best practices model for communities who want to be on the forefront of meeting the specific needs of girls and boys in an integrated and innovative fashion. They believe in positive and successful youth development. The RISE program provides effective opportunities for critical social and emotional development during middle school through the sixth grade wheel and electives.

Major goals for RISE:

• To provide high quality, gender-specific programs for youth on the sixth grade wheel at seven middle schools.
• To provide faculty and staff education in order to increase school sustainability in adequately responding to social and emotional needs and understanding gender and youth development.
• To create opportunities for parents and families to learn more about their children’s challenges and strengths and engage more with them through parent/guardian activities and events.

Targeted Population: RISE is geared towards sixth grade girls and boys. All current RISE programs are in Title I schools that are located in economically disadvantaged communities throughout the county. Middle schools hosting the RISE program for the 2009/2010 school year include Dowdell, Ferrell, Greco, Memorial, Stewart, Roland Park, and Young.

Timeline: This program was piloted with boys only at Stewart in the 2007/2008 school year, and then expanded to five schools serving both girls and boys in the 2008/2009 school year. The plan is to work with each school for at least three years directly and build the school’s capacity to offer the program internally by providing faculty training throughout the three years.

Executive Summary is continued on attachment.

* Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates, * Demonstrate consistent and effective teaching methods, * Motivate students to become responsible learners, * Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum